In the final part of this series, I am giving you my configuration for the Behringer X-Touch Mini that I’ve shown you in the previous part. Of course, everyone has different workflows and the biggest advantage of generic MIDI controllers is that you can personalize all functions. So have a look at my configuration, play around with it and then change it to your needs.

One of the biggest challenges, when trying to use a MIDI controller with Lightroom is to find a controller that works well for Lightroom. As already said in the first part of this series, MIDI controllers are optimized for sound production, not for photo editing.

So when you start you will face a chicken-egg problem: You do not know yet how well it works and which parameters can work best for editing, while you do not have a controller yet to try it out.

Editing images with Software like Lightroom typically involves changing parameters like exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and so on for more than 90% of your work. These parameters are controlled using sliders that you have to drag with your Mouse – sliders that emulate physical controls.

Why not use such physical controls like sliders or control dials directly? Instead of using the mouse to point to virtual controls and focus on these virtual controls, why not just use a physical control and focus on the effect on the picture while changing the values instead?

Photography and video seem to come with a never-ending need for extras and accessories. And after we’ve bought our cameras, lenses, lights and bags to put it all in, we still find ourselves needing extra things here and there. So, in this gift guide, we’re going to take a look at some of DIYP’s favourite and most used accessories.

Ever since the Loupedeck+ (review here) was announced, offering compatibility with a wider range of software than just Lightroom, there’s been one feature I’ve hoped for. That feature is compatibility with video editing software. Today, Loupedeck has come through and announced that it’s happening, beginning with Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

Since Adobe switched from perpetual licenses to a subscription model, I’ve been trying to make my photo and video workflow as Adobe-free as possible. As a result, I don’t use Lightroom. So I never really had a need for the original Loupedeck.

But when the announcement came for the Loupedeck+ with support for Skylum Aurora HDR and Capture One, and more software support coming in the future, I thought it was time to take a more serious look at it. I’ve been using the Loupedeck+ for a few weeks now, and I think it’s safe to say that it’s won me over.

Non-Lightroom users have been a little jealous since the Loupedeck hit the scene. They want consoles for their respective applications, too! And the folks at Loupedeck listened. Now they present us with the new Loupedeck+. It’s a welcome update to the previous model with a more refined construction, new mechanical keys, custom dial control mode and support for more software.

As of right now, as well as the Lightroom compatibility of its predecessor, the new Loupedeck+ supports Skylum Aurora HDR 2018. Beta integration with Capture One is here, and more apps are on the way!

Skylum has today announced a major performance update to its Aurora HDR 2018 software. As well as adding in some new tools and improving performance and stability for both Windows and Mac, it also adds support for the new Loupedeck+ console.

With the new version, users will see a boost in performance on MacOS computers of up to 180% while Windows users see a speed improvement of up to 500%. Skylum also says that Aurora HDR now makes better use of memory with intelligent management and improved stability. But what’s really cool is that it now has Loupedeck support.

Clinton Lofthouse is a Photographer, Retoucher and Digital Artist based in the United Kingdom, who specialises in creative retouching and composites. Proud 80's baby, reader of graphic novels and movie geek!
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